In simple terms, making a video can be broken down into three key phases: planning (or pre-production), filming (and obtaining other material) and editing (or post-production). Each phase is important.

Planning. In this phase, Mike or Lesley from TimeTrackers will meet you and discuss the project, and help you develop a rough outline of the final product. We'll need to think about:

• the overall structure of the video (e.g. an interview, number of cameras, a series of interviews, a narrative, or something more complex);
• who's going to be the centre-piece;
• the overall 'shape' of the story;
• what timescale will we deal with;
• what photos and documents are available and how they should fit into the film;
• the overall budget for the project (we can give you a firm quote during this phase).

During the planning phase we develop 'prompts' if we're going to be interviewing, ie questions we can ask if the subject dries up. And we usually visit the place where we're going to film and assess lighting and sound requirements, and meet the key people to be involved (this is a helpful way to put everyone at ease and make sure we all know what's going on).

Filming. In this phase we go to the location, set up interviews and record them on video. As well, we can take some fill-in video (eg the family at ease around the house), and source photos, documents, maps, charts and any other videos or film to be included in the final film.

We often need to film interviews over more than one visit...it's surprising what else you'll remember after we've finished the first one!

Editing. This is the most time-consuming phase. We edit out unnecessary questions and prompts and any stumbles and assemble a 'rough cut', that is, the sequence of shots, where the various extras such as photos and documents will fit in, and review this with you. Following your approval, we will then do the final cut edit including titles, text, transitions,voice-overs, sound FX and music of your choice.

Once the project is finished to your satisfaction, we will create a DVD master file (and a nice 'slick' for the DVD case) and then burn the agreed number of DVD disks for you.